News

11/22/2011 4:15 PM - Rockford faces San Antonio for first time in 2011-12

Rockford, Ill.- Unlike that family member who makes you travel across the country to see them for Thanksgiving, the Rockford IceHogs are coming to you for the holidays. Rockford opens a season-long five-game homestand at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Wednesday against the San Antonio Rampage.

The Rampage travel to Rockford for the first of four meetings between the two teams this season. Game time is 7:05 p.m. To kick off the homestand, the first 1,500 fans age 21 and older can take home a dog tag bottle opener courtesy of Bud Light. And Wednesday’s game will also boast plenty of food. Thanks to Taco Bell Dollar Days, beer, hot dogs, soft drinks and companion tickets are all just a dollar each.

If you’re looking to do a little Christmas shopping while you’re at the game, Wednesday is the perfect time to get a customized IceHogs jersey. Premiere jerseys will be half price with the purchase of customization during Wednesday’s contest. Customization will be done at the BMO Harris Bank Center during the game.

Friday night is Country Night at the BMO Harris Bank Center, as the IceHogs take on the Peoria Rivermen in another Illinois Lottery Cup tilt at 7:05 p.m. The PennyMaeDixon band will be on hand to entertain fans, performing before the game and during both intermissions. Country Night is sponsored by Rockford’s Country Q98.5. Rockford is 2-2-1-0 against the division rivals so far this season.

The Oklahoma City Barons return to the BMO Harris Bank Center on Saturday for their second contest against the IceHogs this season and final game in the Forest City. The puck gets on the ice at 7:05 p.m. Last time the Barons were in town, they walked away with the 5-4 victory despite a pair of Rockford goals by center Peter LeBlanc.

For tickets to any of the games, call (815) 968-5222, buy online at icehogs.com, or stop by the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office.

Fans who can’t make it to the BMO Harris Bank Center can still watch the IceHogs on Comcast Cable Channel 16 and 57, and Charter Cable Channel 16. Wednesday’s game will also be broadcast on Rockford’s My Network TV 17.2. You can also listen to the games on 100.5 NTA FM, www.nta.com, and 1330 AM WNTA. Friday’s game will also be on 1380 AM ESPN.

Rockford has controlled the all-time series against the Rampage at the BMO Harris Bank Center, going 8-4-0-1 in the Forest City. But the IceHogs have not won a game at home since opening night on Oct. 8, posting a 1-6-0-0 record in Rockford so far this season.

Winger Rostislav Olesz and the IceHogs will look to turn that around Wednesday. Since being loaned by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Rockford IceHogs on Nov. 17, Olesz has figured in four of Rockford’s five goals and added a marker in Friday’s shootout. The Bilovec, Czech Republic native had a goal and an assist in both games in Charlotte over the weekend.